GoonGoon-Real Estate

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

If you are trying to find an inexpensive, stylish and durable building
that's fast to create you will want to select Steel Building. Keep
reading for more information on steel buildings.
You'll find advantages of getting offices, residential together with
other structures created from steel and many of them are outlined below:

1. Stylish Modern Designs:

Steel structures aren't any more just boring blocks of metal. The
completely new age metal structures are produced with modern and trendy
designs and could have a look connected having a traditional exterior.

2. Atmosphere Friendly:

This is an atmosphere friendly that is created from steel which might be
recycled. It can help in conservation of a person's in addition to
decreases on the requirement for wood which then causes deforestation.

3. Durable Structures:

Certainly one of the numerous advantages of steel building could it be
includes durable and prefabricated material. It need low maintenance and
can include four decades warranty.

4. Fast Construction:

Since these structures are produced in line with the specifications
supplied by the companies they include prefabricated pieces ready to
install. Package to produce the structure is distributed in just day or
two time. It is also quite simple to put within the structure anyone can
carry it out using the instructions within the manual with little the
assistance of the crew.

5. Cost Savings:

Steel structures allow cost cutting each and every stage. First it
reduces labor cost since the structures are fast to produce. Once with
the ability to use is reduces maintenance cost. Involve remodeling the
structure may also be removed so such expenses can also be avoided.

6. A lot better than Conventional Structures:

It's best than other conventional structures. Problems like pest
unwanted pests aren't seen with metal structures. They are better at
battling fire, damages triggered by rains together with other natural
forces like tornados, tornados and earthquakes.

7. Extended Existence in the Structures:

Steel structures are produced from inorganic material and could
withstand harsh conditions. They are mold spores resistant and possess
longer existence. It is also easy to make structural changes. Walls
might be added or removed without getting affected the potency of the
structure.

8. Insurance Benefits:

Insurance costs might be acquired at significantly lower rates as steel
is famous because of its sturdy and fireresistant qualities. The
development insurance policies are needed for any shorter time as metal
structures are made and hang up faster than other structures.

9. A myriad of Structures:

Steel structures might be accustomed to make a myriad of structures
including social, commercial and residential structures. Package
structures are employed to make schools, shops, business structures,
houses, industrial parks, in addition to church buildings.

10. Energy-efficient:

Energy-efficiency is certainly an natural excellence of the steel
building. Metal roofing and siding reflect sunlight and heat jetski from
the interior cooler so there's less demand for using ac models. They
keep the interior temps moderate throughout winters so usage of heater
may also be reduced.

Steel structures are beneficial towards the clients in several ways
which is why why they are becoming extremely popular inside the urban
centers.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Failing to take any legal action against the distribution agencies for giving illegal gas connections to domestic consumers, Petrobangla is planning to penalise thousands of consumers who have been paying their bills to gas distribution agencies. The state-owned oil and gas company has set June 20, 2013 as the deadline for “legalising” the unauthorised gas connections. Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur said on Tuesday that although they were paying their bills regularly to the distribution agencies, the consumers would have to face penalty if their connections were not legalised by June 20.

The Petrobangla chief also said that in the past two and a half years, more than 117,414 domestic connections had been given by the officials of Titas Gas Distribution and Transmission Agency against the decision of the authority. As a result, they had received several hundred crores of taka from the illegal domestic consumers in their fake accounts.

Though the Petrobangla chairman said that the government would take action against the Titas officials involved in the illegal deals, nothing has been done in the last couple of years.

Many questioned why the consumers would suffer for the misdeeds of dishonest Titas officials, who, on the one hand, provided unauthorised connections to the consumers, and on the other, realised bills from the consumers.

Why one should be called an illegal consumer when they were paying their bills regularly, a consumer said, adding that the Titas employees provided them the account numbers for paying the bills.

As per Petrobangla’s announcement, the existing illegal gas connections would be authorised first and then the agencies would give priority to those who had collected “demand note” from the distribution agencies.

Titas asked the illegal consumers to apply for new gas connections to make their existing connections legal by paying Tk. 6,750 as penalty by June 20, failing which, the consumers would face legal action, up to six months in jail.

“What nonsense! Why would I be fined? The government snapped the gas connection when we booked this flat. We do not have extra space in our kitchen to install a gas cylinder, nor can we use wood for fire”, said a disgruntled consumer.

According to Petrobangla, each consumer having a double-burner oven has to deposit Tk. 6,750 (a year’s bills at a flat rate, plus three months’ equivalent bills as penalty) to the respective gas companies to legalise the illegal connections.

After the money has been deposited, consumers will have to pay regular bills from June 1. They have to keep a counterpart of the payment receipt, in case a mobile court visits their locality.

The government officially suspended new domestic gas connections in July 2009.

However, according to Petrobangla’s official statement, domestic consumers are still getting connections in exchange for undercover payment and by lobbying the distribution agencies.

The Petrobangla chairman said, “Titas authorities collected Tk. 200 crore as bills from 57,414 illegal connections and we found that about 58,000 thousand consumers were not paying any money against their gas consumption”.

He also said that the total number of illegal gas burners was 57,414, against which Tk. 116.86 crore had been deposited with Titas Gas. “But this money is not in the official Titas account as it came from the illegal consumers”, he added.

To stop all this, the High Court, on Apr 16, revoked its earlier order against giving new gas connections. However, the new order rotted under red tape as the energy adviser was reluctant to allow the distribution agencies to give new connections.

Finally, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the energy minister, on May 7, directed the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to start giving new gas connections to the domestic consumers across the country.

“Petrobangla estimates that around 31.47-mmcf gas is needed to fulfil the demand of residential consumers across the country, and currently 11.08-mmcf gas is being consumed illegally. As a result, our net requirement to meet the hidden demand of residential consumers is only 20 mmcf gas per day”, Hossain Monsur told The Independent.

Petrobangla earlier estimated that around 10-mmcf gas was being used illegally from the national grid every day.

According to energy ministry estimates, domestic consumers are using around 220-mmcf gas per day. However, Petrobangla daily production capacity is around 2,243 mmcf.

The Petrobangla chief also said that a number of government officials, including bureaucrats, were having illegal gas connections in their homes.

At a press conference, Nowshad Islam, managing director of Titas Gas, said that his company would start giving new connections soon, possibly within the next week.

“We hope to start giving physical connections by next week. We are facing manpower and equipment shortage. So, it may take some time to provide connections to all consumers in one day.

At the most, we can provide 300 connections per day”, he added.

“I would like to urge consumers not to pay any extra money to any Titas gas officials”, he said. In case anybody asked for extra money, they should be reported against to Petrobangla, he added.

“We have initiated an inquiry into the matter and will take action after it is completed”, he told reporters.

He also said that he was in favour of providing gas connections to household consumers, but a quarter within the government misled the policymakers into halting the process.

New gas connections to households have begun from this week after a long suspension for nearly three years. This is a good piece of news for those who were waiting for this for years together. Earlier, the Energy Division resumed new gas connections to industries on selective basis last year.Despite the embargo on new connections, a section of unscrupulous officials and employees of different state-owned gas marketing and distribution companies provided illegal gas connections allegedly in exchange of bribe. The Petrobangla chairman alleged that the government lost revenue worth at least Tk 1.8 million (US$ 30,000) everyday due to illegal gas connections to household consumers alone. Petrobangla made a survey over illegal gas connections and found that around 9.0 million cubic feet a day (mmcfd) of gas was pilfered through the illegal connections to households.

Petrobangla identified that over 1,17,414 domestic connections were given in the Titas gas distribution and transmission area in violation of the decision of the authority in the last two-and-a-half years. The Titas authorities collected Tk. 2.0 billion as bills from 57,414 illegal connections. It was also found that about 60,000 consumers did not pay any money for their consumption of gas. Petrobangla estimates that around 31.47 mmcf gas is needed to meet the demand of residential consumers across the country. Already 11.08 mmcf gas are being consumed illegally. So the requirement for meeting the hidden demand of residential consumers is 20 mmcf of gas.

The most interesting point is that such kind of pilferage was occurring in broad daylight, but nobody interfered in the affairs during the last two years. Even no staff of the gas marketing and distribution companies was nabbed or penalised for such act. Only Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a law firm, came to the scene and filed a writ petition in November 2012 with the High Court (HC), seeking an embargo on such illegal connections.

While announcing the lifting of ban on new gas connections, the government said that it would also legalise illegal gas connections with fiscal penalties. Analysts said such kind of widespread pilferage should not be dealt with only 'fiscal penalties'. Responsible officers and employees of the gas distribution and marketing companies should be arrested and jailed for such act. Why should only the consumers be slapped with 'fiscal penalties'? It is now clear that the errant employees of those companies lured the consumers to get the illegal connections in exchange of speed money.

According to reports, a huge sum of money, to the tune of Tk 3.0 billion, were deposited with Titas accounts by illegal gas consumers. The audit teams are unable to trace where from these money came as there are no records of these consumers. In this way, the government is losing a huge amount of money as revenue.

When the government halted gas connections to households in July 2010, it promised to restart it when the overall supply would reach 2,200 mmcfd. It also promised to rationalise the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and piped natural gas to households. The country's overall gas production exceeded 2,200 mmcfd about one year ago. But the government took more than one year to resume gas connections. Some 15 million mmcfd has been earmarked for the new household gas connections. The decision on rationalising the LPG price is yet to be taken.The government deserves appreciation for taking pragmatic steps to improve the capacity of the state-owned BAPEX for more gas exploration and production. The authorities expect to get adequate gas soon from the newly discovered gas fields such as Sunetra and Srikail. At present, the country is producing 2,200 mmcfd gas. Of the total production, 55 per cent is supplied to power stations, 16 per cent to industrial units and 10 per cent to fertiliser factories across the country.

In the meantime, the government is also considering increasing the prices of natural gas for domestic consumers to meet the soaring costs of hydrocarbon exploration and gas purchase and to reduce wastage. Hinting about such a move, the energy adviser said recently that the prices of gas used by domestic consumers were much lower than those of other fuels. Hence, Petrobangla has proposed raising the prices to Tk 800 a month from Tk 400 for a single-burner gas stove and to Tk 1,000 from Tk 450 for a double-burner stove.

Experts say there cannot be any justification to increase the prices in areas where residents receive gas supply only for four to six hours a day. For industrial users, the government should look into the possible impact on the production of the units. The small and medium enterprises could see their competitiveness dented if the gas prices are increased. Also, there is a need to improve supply side management to cut down on wastage of the utility. Only raising prices as a way of easing pressure on subsidies will not work.

The knock-on effect of the prolonged ban on domestic and industrial gas connections was huge. Housing companies were unable to hand over the readied flats to their customers. House rents in the capital went up substantially due to scarcity of flats. Industrial growth was hampered. However, with the resumption of new connections, situation is expected to improve substantially.

The government needs to take effective measures to stop illegal gas connections. The administrative set-up of the state-owned marketing and distribution companies should be streamlined in order to ensure healthy gas management in the country. Shahiduzzaman Khan//szkhan@dhaka.netThe financial Express. Published : Sunday, 12 May 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

Bangladesh business people yesterday urged Kuwait entrepreneurs to invest in some potential areas such as real estate, power generation and transmission, financial market, infrastructure and hotel and tourism.
The call came at a discussion between the visiting Kuwaiti business delegation and the country's apex trade body, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh business side said trade volume between Kuwait and Bangladesh is substantial but slightly lopsided. Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh may help reduce the trade gap, they opined.
In the 2004-05 fiscal, Bangladesh's export to Kuwait stood at only $7.87million while it imported goods worth $517million.
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Local business leaders also urged the government of Kuwait to recruit more skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh.
They also offered Kuwaiti importers to import pharmaceutical products to meet some of their requirements and also offered investment under joint collaboration in Kuwait.
The 17-member Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation was led by Hilal Meshari Al Mutairi, first deputy chairman of KCCI. The FBCCI team was led by its President Mir Nasir Hossain.
Mohammad Abdul Awal, president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab), Khalifa Abdullah Al Fadala, chairman of Al-Raya International, Khaled Jassim Al Wazzan, chairman of General Trading and Contracting Co, also spoke at the meeting.
Nazmul Hasan, chief executive officer of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, made a presentation on the pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh at the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Mir Nasir said the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs, who are used to investing in Malaysia and Pakistan, can come forward to invest in different sectors, including financial market of Bangladesh.
"I sincerely call on them to avail of the opportunity of using our gas and low-paid labour and invest here to meet the demand of a large international market as well as the domestic one," Mir Nasir said.
"We welcome the Kuwaiti investors to come to Bangladesh for investment in 100 percent ownership or in joint venture in order to take an advantage of investment-friendly environment and packages available here," he said.
Hilal Meshari told the meeting that a number of trade and investment agreements were signed between Bangladesh and Kuwait.
"Nevertheless, we do believe that economic co-operation between the two nations should be enhanced," he added.
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He said the Kuwaiti private sector, which is strongly backed by supportive governmental polices, believes that it is high time to push forward these economic and trade relations with an aim of creating solid and fruitful economic partnerships between the two countries.
Earlier, the FBCCI leaders underscored the need for formulation of joint chambers through two apex trade bodies FBCCI and KCCI.

He was addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of the five-day Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) Fair-2008 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Center in the city.

He said the real estate businessmen should fulfill all rules and regulations in developing housing projects to create a good environment friendly living for people.

Golam Quader laid emphasis on creating closer relationship among the real estate organisations and the government to promote planned urbanisation in the country.

He advised the REHAB members to expand their projects to localities outside big cities to help resolve housing problem.

He also advised them to use sustainable environment friendly technology in building houses.

The Housing and Public Works Adviser praised the REHAB activities for making significant contribution in the country's economic development.

The REHAB arranged the fair to showcase its new housing development schemes and designs and attract buyers to put booking orders as part of promoting sales and business.

A total of 192 real estate firms are taking part in the fair. Of them 187 are house building and land developing firms and the remaining five are banks and financial institutions supporting the housing sector.

The fair will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm daily except till November 16. Its one time entry fee is Taka 50 and for five days together Taka 100.

Secretary of the Housing and Public Works ASM Rashedul Haque, REHAB President Tanbirul Haque Probal, Vice President Abdur Rahim Khan, Shahidur Rahman Lal, addressed, among others on the occasion.

REHAB is organising seminars, lectures and drawing competition in the sideline of the event.(The Daily New Nation-12.11.2008)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It is a matter of heated debate that the recently proposed ordinance on the real estate contains controversial provisions which, if enforced, could land developers in jail in non-bailable cases.

Sadat Hossain Salim, managing director of Rupayan, a leading housing developer in the country, says: “We often face delays in implementing projects because of the lapses of Rajuk officials. Now, developers will face punishment in case of failure to hand over the apartment in time, regardless of the reason behind the delay.”

“The government and its officials are protected under the proposed law and as per the ordinance, developers cannot file any case against those government officials who are responsible for supervising the activities," Salim clarifies the reasons behind the disputes.

"Yet any official from the developer's side can be fined or jailed for violating any clause of the ordinance," Salim says in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star.

“This is highly immoral and contrary to ethical norms."

“We often fail to deliver the flat or plot because of the land owners and government officials, who conceal disputes that may be associated with the land and delay approving files," he says.

Focusing on "Bangladesh Real Estate Management Ordinance 2008" that created widespread debate, Salim has supported the fact that law is necessary for control of fraudulent acts, but there must be a balance.

Allegations of fraud and deception in handing over plots or flats and illegal encroachment of private and public land are rife against a section of real estate companies.

Many innocent people are often lured by false assurances of hole-in-the-wall housing companies due to the lax monitoring of the sector. Malpractices prompted the government to initiate the move to bring the fast-growing sector under a stringent law.

Currently, the law ministry is reviewing the draft for vetting. The draft regulation stipulates jail terms and financial penalties for delinquent developers.

The government and the developers are apparently at loggerhead over the enactment of the draft ordinance. The government has formulated the law without consultation with the sector people, the realtors claimed.

The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) submitted a set of recommendations to the government for incorporating the suggestions in the ordinance.

After the draft ordinance came out, it was seen that the recommendations were left out. REHAB quickly came up with a notice that if the ordinance is implemented, it will destroy the real estate sector.

While the government is justifying the ordinance by saying that it is necessary to protect client's interests, developers say it will cut their rights.

“Both parties are right on their respective stances,” Salim says.

In the past, many hit-and-run companies have cheated consumers and failed to hand over the due flats or plots even after years of taking the money. They also use low-quality building materials to stretch the dollar and to bag more profits at the cost of buyers, Salim admits.

“No doubt laws are required to protect the consumers,” he says. On the other hand, the real estate, which accounts for over 8 percent of the country's $78 billion GDP, should not go out of the market over the fear of the provision of severe punishment in the proposed ordinance.

The sector has generated a lot of jobs in the country and genuine businessmen have invested crores of taka, by both equity and bank borrowing, he says.

“If the law comes through, there is a possibility that many genuine businesses will withdraw their investments," he fears.

The companies, wary of "unavoidable circumstances", fear that even lapses of errant government officials or clients may lead them to punishment. Errant officials can escape punishment, according to the proposed laws, Salim says.

He speculates that a new breed of 'tout class' may be born to cash in on the opportunities. “The tout class may try to blackmail the developers in the name of the buyers,” he says.

Dishonest bureaucrats will also try to abuse the law, he alleges.

“We have raised our concerns at different levels including the chief adviser,” Salim says. "He assured us that there would be a balance."

Salim states that a realtor would be punished with five years in jail if he uses low-quality materials. “On what basis will the quality of the materials be classified? We use low-quality materials for low-priced flats,” he adds.

He also criticises the government for terming the offence as 'criminal', instead of 'civil'. “A violation of contract cannot be a criminal offence,” he notes.

But Salim backs the provision for after-sales service. “The service may be for a maximum of one year instead of the proposed two after sales.”

According to a study, Salim says, housing in the capital city will grow until the year 2015. Still the government and the private sector have miles to go in making the city livable. Some 60 percent of Dhaka residents are tenants.

Salim says the sector has boomed mainly because of the large number of people wishing to make Dhaka their home, scarcity of land and the use of black money. These issues have caused for dramatic rises in the price of spaces in the city.

Salim, a campaigner in the housing industry, says there are no housing zones or satellite cities surrounding Dhaka. Now space has become a big constraint for the sector. Industries have grabbed almost all the land surrounding the city.

He also criticises the present REHAB leaders for their failure to uphold the interests of the industry.

“The current leadership is weak and they cannot bargain with the government. They have failed,” he adds.

The proposed law suggested that real-estate companies must obtain registration from the related authorities and get project designs approved under the Private Housing Project Land Development Rules-2004. An occupancy certificate is a must to hand over any plot or flat. The companies must clearly state in their prospectuses the consequences of failure to pay the installments by the buyers, and they must not sell out the flats of defaulters to third parties within 90 days of notification.

The draft law stipulates that real-estate companies will have to return the entire sum of money along with interest to the buyers in three months' time in case of missing handover deadlines.

The developers have to take initiatives to ensure utility services in the project areas. If it is found that any company starts the project work without permission, the company will be fined up to a sum of Tk 10 lakh and its executives may be punished with three years of imprisonment.

It also imposes a bar on the mortgage of any plot or flat before it is handed over to its owner. Developers will be fined for failing to inform its client beforehand about the mortgage of any complete or under-construction land, apartment or space.

Besides, there will be penalties for not using agreed materials in construction and suspending a project without consulting clients(The Daily Star-21.10.2008)